Devotion 219
“The LORD Shall Rule Over You”
Reference: Judges Chapter 8
Man has the tendency to find leadership in other men. God made men and women so that He can rule over them by His Word.
Israel sought a king when God was supposed to be their King.
1 Samuel 8:4-7 “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, [5] And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. [6] But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. [7] And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
The plan of God was to make man in His image. The image is God dwelling in the man or woman and ruling him or her. The thoughts of God becoming the thoughts of the man or woman. The Love of God becoming the Love of the man or woman. God dwelling in man. God showed us this principle when He dwelled in Christ. This is the Emmanuel Principle; God dwelling in man.
Today, God dwells in man in the form of the Holy Spirit. This is how God wants to rule man. Not by some denominational leadership. Not by some Pope, Cardinal, Bishop or church overseer. But by the Holy Spirit; the very presence of God.
Israel sought Gideon to rule over them.
Let’s read:
Judges 8:1-3 “And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. [2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer? [3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.”
These semi-believers will not join the fight against evil. They will sit and watch, and then come with their sharp unbelieving questions. So is the semi-believing church today. They will not join the war to go into all the world and preach the gospel. They sit and watch, and then come with their remarks such as the Holy Spirit baptism and Divine healing ceased with the Apostles. If they read the Word and believe it, they would know God never ceased looking to reign in men and women.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:4-22 “And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. [6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? [7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. [8] And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. [9] And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. [10] Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. [11] And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. [12] And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. [13] And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, [14] And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. [15] And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? [16] And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. [17] And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. [18] Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. [19] And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. [20] And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. [21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. [22] Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
They saw Gideon give them victory and not the God in Gideon. They wanted Gideon to rule over them and not the God in Gideon .Man is always looking to be ruled (enslaved) by other men because they are looking for. a god they can physically see and touch and not the God who leads by His Word and Spirit.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:23 “And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”
Gideon was one hundred percent in line with the Word of God. His victories came because He was in line with the Word of God, and so does every victory.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:24-27 “And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [26] And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. [27] And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”
We step outside the Word of God slightly and we have a snare on our hands.Aaron, a man called by God stepped outside the Word of God slightly, and brought death to Israel.
Exodus 32:22-28 “And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. [25] And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) [26] Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.”
Eve stepped outside the Word of God slightly and the human race to this day is ensnared by Satan.
We conclude our reading:
Judges 8:28-35 “Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. [29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. [30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. [31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. [32] And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites. [33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal–berith their god. [34] And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: [35] Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.”
The children of Israel remembered not the LORD for they saw Gideon and not the LORD in Gideon.
If we will see God in man and not the man or woman, we will never miss God.
Let the Word and Spirit of God come and reign in you. Believe and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. He has always wanted to be your King, to rule over you, by His Spirit, in Christ!
Reference: Judges Chapter 8
Man has the tendency to find leadership in other men. God made men and women so that He can rule over them by His Word.
Israel sought a king when God was supposed to be their King.
1 Samuel 8:4-7 “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, [5] And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. [6] But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. [7] And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
The plan of God was to make man in His image. The image is God dwelling in the man or woman and ruling him or her. The thoughts of God becoming the thoughts of the man or woman. The Love of God becoming the Love of the man or woman. God dwelling in man. God showed us this principle when He dwelled in Christ. This is the Emmanuel Principle; God dwelling in man.
Today, God dwells in man in the form of the Holy Spirit. This is how God wants to rule man. Not by some denominational leadership. Not by some Pope, Cardinal, Bishop or church overseer. But by the Holy Spirit; the very presence of God.
Israel sought Gideon to rule over them.
Let’s read:
Judges 8:1-3 “And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply. [2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi–ezer? [3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.”
These semi-believers will not join the fight against evil. They will sit and watch, and then come with their sharp unbelieving questions. So is the semi-believing church today. They will not join the war to go into all the world and preach the gospel. They sit and watch, and then come with their remarks such as the Holy Spirit baptism and Divine healing ceased with the Apostles. If they read the Word and believe it, they would know God never ceased looking to reign in men and women.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:4-22 “And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. [5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. [6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army? [7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers. [8] And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. [9] And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower. [10] Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword. [11] And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure. [12] And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host. [13] And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, [14] And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. [15] And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? [16] And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth. [17] And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city. [18] Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king. [19] And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. [20] And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth. [21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. [22] Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.”
They saw Gideon give them victory and not the God in Gideon. They wanted Gideon to rule over them and not the God in Gideon .Man is always looking to be ruled (enslaved) by other men because they are looking for. a god they can physically see and touch and not the God who leads by His Word and Spirit.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:23 “And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.”
Gideon was one hundred percent in line with the Word of God. His victories came because He was in line with the Word of God, and so does every victory.
We continue our reading:
Judges 8:24-27 “And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) [25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey. [26] And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks. [27] And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.”
We step outside the Word of God slightly and we have a snare on our hands.Aaron, a man called by God stepped outside the Word of God slightly, and brought death to Israel.
Exodus 32:22-28 “And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. [23] For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. [24] And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. [25] And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) [26] Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.”
Eve stepped outside the Word of God slightly and the human race to this day is ensnared by Satan.
We conclude our reading:
Judges 8:28-35 “Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. [29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. [30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. [31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. [32] And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi–ezrites. [33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal–berith their god. [34] And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side: [35] Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.”
The children of Israel remembered not the LORD for they saw Gideon and not the LORD in Gideon.
If we will see God in man and not the man or woman, we will never miss God.
Let the Word and Spirit of God come and reign in you. Believe and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. He has always wanted to be your King, to rule over you, by His Spirit, in Christ!
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